The NBA All Stars has become a high-flying party. With competition between East and West eliminated, the game has been reduced to a display of offensive talent against defenses that almost make the attackers a corridor. Right in the middle was a man who took the game seriously and for the first time managed to defeat Team LeBron, who had won the last five editions using this format in which the captains pick their teammates. Jayson Tatum has become the top scorer and was named Player of the All-Star Game.
The Boston Celtics’ Tatum has an all-star record 55 points, proving he’s one of the fittest players in pro basketball. With Antetokounmpo absent through injury, the team was more Team Jayson than Team Giannis. Tatum’s performance led his team to a comfortable 184-175 victory.
The day before Tatum had done poorly in the triples competition and this Sunday he was between the eyebrows to be the game’s protagonist over LeBron James. He broke records with 55 points in the game and 27 in the third quarter. Tatum seemed poised to be named MVP from the start, but as the level rose it was in the third quarter after the long hiatus for musical performances and halftime honors.
The all-star party is looking more and more like one of the Harlem Globetrotters, with more talent but less choreography. Ingredients have been added to liven up the show, although it lacks the passion and competitiveness of a top-level match. One of the novelties of this exercise is that the selection of the teams was made just a few moments before the start of the game.
The players came to Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City (Utah) not knowing which jersey they would be wearing. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo (he only attended the game as a testimonial) picked their teammates. Antetokounmpo’s biggest achievement was choosing Tatum on his first opportunity. LeBron’s top two picks, Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving, each had 32 points, but Doncic and Jokic, who rounded out the starters for LeBron’s team, only have 4 each.
Luka Doncic, equipped with a headset and microphone, appeared more interested in answering the interview he was given on live TV than attending the game. After all, he was able to tell live how he gave away a partner. LeBron has had some spectacular games, but he’s only managed 13 points in 14 minutes (and a handful of other records).
The party itself has little history. The first quarter ended in a tie (46-46) and the defense never tried to stop the attackers. In summary: stratospheric threes, acrobatic dunks, a Tatum starting to show his teeth (13 points and a dunk with a pass to the board to mimic LeBron) and Doncic giving an interview during the game.
Anteto and Tatum’s team started to gain an advantage in the second quarter, when the substitutes were down, but it wasn’t until the third, when Tatum was back on track, that he finally put land in his way. There he gave an exhibition, with which he made it clear that he came to win the title of the best player. He’s the first Celtics player since Larry Bird, no less.
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The All Star is played with special rules and there is no time in the last quarter, but you have to reach a point goal. Anteto and Tatum’s team needed 24 points and Lebron’s needed 41, so the die was cast. The winners were immediately basketed away from their goal, but to add some excitement to the whole thing, they started trying to score from almost the center of the field. Since it did not happen and the rivals got a little closer, they got a little closer to the tire and completed the process.
Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Zion Williamson, who had originally been selected as starters, were absent through injury. His place in the starting XI was taken by Ja Morant, Joel Embiid and Lauri Markkanen.
LeBron James is the all-star captain in minutes played, points scored, field goals scored and attempted. By taking the field alone, he has surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was elected 19 times between 1979 and 1989 but missed the 1973 game. His selection also broke Kobe Bryant’s record of 18 consecutive elections (Bryant missed then one of the parties). He’s also six behind next, Bob Cousy, with 19 straight starts.
The Lakers No. 6 as captain has repeated the six that has used this format for the sixth consecutive year. In the previous five, his team had won. Antetokounmpo, who was captain in 2019 and 2020, has replaced Kevin Durant in the east.
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